After several minutes of waiting, Broken finally spotted Ivana approaching. She still wore the knee-length white dress with a blue belt and matching ribbon in her hair, hurrying towards him with a warm smile on her face. As usual, she carried a wooden basket in her hand. They met at the edge of the bustling plaza, standing face to face amidst the crowd, their smiles reflecting a shared sense of better mood and renewed motivation in their eyes.
“Good morning, Broken,” she greeted him.
“Good morning, Ivana. Did you get a good night’s sleep?”
Ivana shrugged slightly and giggled. “Not really,” she confessed. “But my mood improved after making this dish… for you,” she added, offering the basket she held.
Side by side, they walked away from the lively plaza toward the beach, where several iron benches awaited them. As they sat down, the gentle morning breeze from the sea caused Ivana’s hair to flutter. She tried to tame her flowing locks, tucking them behind her right ear.
“I feel much better now,” she admitted softly.
Broken turned to her. “I’m glad to hear that.”
Ivana nodded, her gaze sweeping over the serene beach. ƒreewebɳovel.com
After a moment of silence, Broken broached the topic weighing on his mind. “So… have you decided what to do next?”
Ivana looked at him, determination in her eyes. “I want to follow you,” she said, her voice steady before pausing as the sound of waves crashing filled the air around them. “I want to explore this world with you,” she continued. “I want to embark on this adventure and reach new heights together.”
Broken nodded at Ivana’s response. It was evident that she genuinely wanted to move on and embrace a new chapter in her life. The day before, she had seemed lost, unsure of what to do next, but today, her answer revealed that she had found a new purpose.
“What do you hope to achieve, Ivana?” he asked gently.
“Uhm…” Ivana paused, slightly puffing out her cheek in thought. “I want to… be by your side when you accomplish great things,” she admitted with a soft giggle, turning to look at him. “Does that make me seem like I have no purpose of my own?”
“No,” he replied with a grin. “I think that’s a pretty cool goal. It means you believe I’m going to do a lot of amazing things, right?”
Ivana nodded resolutely. “I am certain of it.”
“But,” he continued, “you need to understand something important. I’m almost like an immortal being-I can revive after death. The journey I’m about to undertake won’t be an easy one. It’s going to take more than just luck to reach my goals. Are you prepared for that?” “Yes!” she affirmed without hesitation. “I, too, have a Unique-grade Shielder class, known as the Aegis Guardian. Like you, I have a way to cheat death once a day. Yes, something like being revived, although in a slightly different manner.” She paused briefly, then added, “So… I guess I’m not entirely a clueless native of Yunatea.”
Broken was taken aback by Ivana’s casual revelation about her class. A Unique-grade class? And she could revive once a day?! That was truly extraordinary.
“You’re talking about an extraordinary skill and class like it’s nothing,” he said. “Your Unique-grade class would make all Adventurers green with envy once they hear about it. From now on, never mention the name of this particular class or its grade to anyone else, alright? Only I should know.”
Ivana nodded. “Yes, sir,” she replied eagerly. “Have I passed the selection test? Am I worthy to accompany you?”
Broken hesitated before replying. “I guess so…” he said reluctantly. After a moment, he added, “I do believe you have more than enough to be worthy. Welcome to the party. Let’s work well together.”
Ivana’s lips curled up into a smile. “Thanks… I’ll make more delicious food for us.”
Broken nodded slowly, feeling the weight of responsibility he had taken on by agreeing to have Ivana join him. But then, whether he accepted or not, she would have embarked on her adventures, with or without him. It was better for her to join him; her potential was too great to be left to chance.
“One more thing,” he added, his tone serious. “In case of an emergency, you must always obey my orders without question, understood?”
Ivana was quiet for a few seconds, contemplating her response. “I will follow your orders…” she finally said after a moment of reflection. “But…” She began to voice an objection but then reconsidered and shook her head. “Yes,” she added softly.
By midday, after they had finished their preparations and Ivana had donned her set of armor, they embarked on their journey toward the Capital of Dissidia Kingdom, the Dissidia Capital City.
As an NPC, Ivana lacked the feature of an Inventory, which players inherently possessed. While some NPCs had a similar ability, it was through a different capability. Thus, Broken carried Ivana’s belongings, including her shield and sword, and also her food supplies in his Inventory storage.
“Polly, if only you ate the same food as us, I promise you’d get a special treat every day!” Ivana shouted over the roaring wind as they sped down the road toward the Dissidia Capital
City.
“Can you make Monster Core taste better…?” Polly responded.
Ivana paused at Polly’s question. “Uhm… I’m not sure if that’s possible.”
Broken chuckled and intervened. “I don’t think that’s a topic worth discussing.”
Ivana giggled at his comment.
The journey was time-consuming and less comfortable than sitting in a carriage, where one could lean back and relax. Riding Polly required Broken, who sat in front, to remain focused to avoid falling from Polly’s back. However, as they traveled, Ivana started feeling comfortable, her arms wrapped around Broken from behind. This reduced the burden on Polly, allowing them to move faster with less wind resistance. The complexity of the game was truly
remarkable.
They encountered a few monsters on their way, as this route was frequently traveled by adventurers and merchants. Occasionally, they passed several carriages on the road, and curious heads peeked out from the windows to get a glimpse of Broken and Ivana. “Whoa… is that a Player? I wish I had a mount like that…” they exclaimed in awe.
“The girl behind him… is she a Special NPC? Damn… what did that player do to have such a beautiful Special NPC accompany him?”
“I’m jealous…”
Hours passed, and soon enough, the towering city walls of the fortress-like capital came into view. The white walls reflected the evening sky like blinding mirrors. This was Dissidia Capital City, the heart of the Dissidia Kingdom.
They halted before the imposing gates. Guards stopped them for identity checks. Once their identities had been confirmed, Broken and Ivana were finally allowed through the threshold, and it felt as though they had stepped into an entirely different world.
Everything in the city was arranged with perfect symmetry and grace, like a masterpiece brought to life. Magnificent marble structures and exquisite sculptures lined the streets, while lush gardens added vibrant colors to every corner. The city buzzed with activity, filled with both local residents and adventurers, making any other place they had seen pale in
comparison.
This, too, was the first time Broken had set foot in the Capital City.